barilow



1. H. BARLOW. FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 26, I918. 1,362,107, Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- 1. H. BARliOW.

FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS. v

APPLICATION EILEU. OCT. 26. I918- I Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

* a, Inf or J. H. BARLOW.

FEELER MO'TION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26,1918.

v Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

" lxll/lllllli/ll/m Int 62113 01:

. shed, are overcome.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. BARLOW, 0F LEWISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OFHOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER-MOTION non Looms.

Specification of Letters Patent. t t Dem 145-1920,

' Application filed October 26, 1918. Serial No. 259,740. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Lewiston, in the county of Androscogginand State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Feeler-Motions forLooms, of which-the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to looms and moreparticularly to feeler motions to effect a change in the operativecondition of the loom when the filling reaches substantial exhaustionbut prior to complete exhaustion.

In weaving certain kinds of fabrics using a plurality of shuttles muchdelay and loss of production occur when any one of the shuttles fails tolay a complete pick in the shed. In. such event, the loom must bestopped and turned back to find the pick as it is called, This isnecessary because otherwise the pattern effectwould be destroyed and theresulting fabric be imperfeet. The difiiculty of turning back to findthe pick becomes emphasized when, in addition to the figuring effectproduced by two or more shuttles, the warps are also pattern controlled,as by a jacquard.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consistsinproviding two feelers, one at each side of the loom, which actalternately to feel for and detect the condition of the filling indifferent shuttles, and upon detection of substantial exhaustion byeither fceler set a train of mechanism in action to change the operativecondition of the loom. The change in the operative condition of the loommay be effected by replenishment of filling or it may b b g.

the loom. In either case, however,the difiiculties and objectionabledelays and loss of production due to finding the pick when only apartial shot of filling is laid in the Another important feature of theinvention consists of two feelers, one at each side of the loom,cooperating with two shuttles, one feeler acting in conjunction with oneof the shuttles at one side of the loom and the other feeler acting inconjunction with the other shuttle at the opposite side of the loom.

The above and other features of the inven H. BAnLow,

tion and novelcombinations of parts will be best made clear from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings of a good practical formof the invention and its various novel characteristics.

In the drawin s: r a Figure 1 is a front view of a loom showng thepresent invention applied thereto,

p some of the parts being broken awayand Fig. 3; r Fig.6 is a section online 66, Fig. 3; Flg. 7 is a perspective view showing the relation ofparts whenone of the feelers detects substantial exhaustion of filling.

The invention will be hereinafter described in connection'with a loomfor weaving cloth wherein two shuttles are employed, one carryingfilling for weaving the ground and the other a filling for weaving afigure. .iiikewise, it'may be that twosets of warp may be employed, oneset for the ground and the otherset forthe figure or pattern beingcontrolled by a jacquard. Looms of this general type are employed forweaving figured cloth, such as counterpanes and the like, and being wellunderstood by those skilled in the art no detailed description of thegeneral loom parts and shedding mechanism is necessary. In looms of thistype a two cell shuttle-box is employed at each end of the lay, oneshuttle cooperating with the top cell at one'side of the loom and thebottom cell at the opposite side of the loom, and while the presentinvention is advantageously employed in connection with such type ofloom, it may also be used with good results in other forms of looms,conbeing controlled by a usual heddle motion The loom frame may be ofsuitable char- I acter for supporting operating parts and as showncomprises the side frames 1 at the lower portion of which are mountedthe lay swords 2 as usual for carrying at their up per portions the lay3. The lay is given its usual reciprocating movements to beat up thefilling by connection with the usual drive shaft or otherwise asconditions may dictate, and as the construction thus far described iswell known and understood, further elucidation is unnecessary.

Mounted at each end of the lay is a shifting shuttle-box which, in thepresent instance of the invention, comprises two cells and suitablemechanism is employed for shiftin the shuttle boxes to brin the an- O bL propriate shuttle on the line of the race. In the present instance thelay 3 has mounted thereon at each end the shuttle box guides 4 and 5between which is mounted the shifting shuttle box 6 having the two cells7 and 8 as clearly indicated in Fig. Each of the shifting shuttle boxes6is connected with a rod 9, the lower portion 10 of which passes througha guide 11 as indicated in Fig. 2 and at its lower end has a projection12 connected by an adjustable link 13 with a shuttle box shifting lever1 L pivotally mounted at 15 and suitably actuated at desired times bymeans of a cam 16 secured to the shaft 17, said cam acting upon a. roll18 mounted on the shifting shuttle box lever ld as indicated in Fig. 2The parts just described are the usual construction and while theypresent one good form of means for effecting the shifting movement ofthe shuttle boxes, it is to be understood, of course, that such shiftingmovement may be effected by ariously contrived means.

Pivotally mounted at 19, Figs. 1 and 2, is the usual picker stick 20,one at. each side of the loom, such picker sticks being actuated bysuitable means through the lug straps 21 to pick the shuttle. The picker22, Fig. 2, is mounted for sliding movement on the picker rod 23 asusual under the impulse of the picker stick, one of such being, ofcourse, associated with each shuttle box. These parts may be of usualconstruction.

In a loom of the type under consideration wherein two shuttles areemployed, one carrying a ground and the other a figuring filling thread,one of said shuttles cooperates with the top cell of the shuttle box atone side of the loom and with the lower cell of the shuttle box at theopposite side of the loom, the effect being that the shuttle carry ingthe ground filling thread will, at one side of the loom, be receivedinto the top cell of the shuttle box while the shuttle carrying thefiguring filling thread will be received into the top cell of theshuttle box on the opposite side of the loom. The present invention,therefore, contemplates a feeler at each side I" the loom, one to detectthe condition of the ground filling thread in the shuttle, and

the other to oetect the condition of the figuring filling thread in theshuttle, the construction being such that should either feeler detectsubstantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle with which itcooperates, it will set in action a train of mechanism to change theoperative condition ofthe loom and avoid laying of partial picks and theconsequent necessity of turning the loom back to find the pick.

In the present instance of the invention the two feelers, one at eachside of the loom, are mounted above their respective shuttle boxes andfeel downwardly through the top of the shuttle, and while thisconstruction is found to be advantageous inasmuch as it does away withthe necessity for slotting the wall of the shuttle box and shuttle forthe entrance of the feeler, it is to be understood that the invention isnot restricted in this respect. In carrying this feature of theinvention into effect in the present instance, a feeler support 24- ismounted at each end of the lay above each of the shifting shuttle boxesand mounted on the f eler supports 24 are the two feelers 25 and 26which, as the shuttle boxes are raised feel into the respective topcells of the boxes to detect the condition of the filling in theshuttles. The feelers 25 and 26 may be variously contrived but in thepresent instance of th invention they are of the impinging and penetrating type, the general construction of such feelers being indicatedin Figs. 3 and 6. Referring to said Figs. 3 and 6, the feelers comprisea feeler stand 27 appropriately secured to the respective feelersupports 24c one at each side of the loom. Mounted for reciprocatingmovement in the feeler stand 27 is the slide 28 the lower portion 29 ofX ch constitutes an impinging member. E. tending through the slide 28 atits end portion is the penetrating feeler member 30 having an angularportion 31 adapted to bear against a finger 32 pivoted at 33 on thefeeler slide 28. The finger 32 is normally held in its inoperativeposition by a plunger 3 1 normally under the influence of a spring 35,the construction being such that should a working supply of filling bepresent in a shuttle when the feeler performs its detecting function,the penetrating member 30 will sink into the filling and then theimpinging member 29 will be engaged by the filling mass and the slide 28will be lifted as the shifting shuttle box is raised to its upperposition to bring the lower cell of the shuttle box in line with therace. If, however, the

filling should be substantially exhaustec when the feeler performs itsdetecting function as indicated in Fig. 6, the penetrating member 30will engage the more dense mass of the filling carrier or bobbin 36contained in the shuttle occupying the upper cell of the shuttle box andwill be moved upwardly thereby to defiect the finger 32 or move itagainst the action of the spring plunger 3e into an operative positionand upon further upward movement of the shuttle. box the finger 32 willact through a train of mecha nism to cause a change in the operativecondition of the loom. In the'present instance of the inventionthischange in the operative condition of the loom is utilized to effect loomstoppage.

Pivotally mounted at 37gadjacent each of the feelers, Fig.3, is acontroller 38 formed as a lever one end 39 of which is normally out ofthe path of the finger 32 of the feeler when the feeler performs'itsdetecting function and a working supply of filling is present in theshuttle, but when the filling has become substantially exhausted andbefore complete exhaustion, the finger 32 will engage the arm 39 of thecontroller and move it: to actuate a train of mechanism to effect thedesired change in the loom operation.

Pivotally mounted at 40 and connected to each of the controllers orlevers 38 is a pin or plunger 41 which extends through a block 42secured to the feeler support 24.

Each of the feeler supports 24 is provided with a slot 43 extendinglongitudinally thereof and extending into each ofsaid slots is a pin orlug 44which, as the lay performs its reciprocating movements, is causedto slide back and forth in said slots and past the position of the pins41. Each of the pins 44 is appropriately mountedupon a slide 45 which isguided in its reciprocating movements by bridge pieces 46 as morespective fingers or arms 49 in normal po-y sition, the constructionbeing such that as the lay is reciprocated toward and from the front ofthe loom or the breast beam 47, the slides 45 will be reciprocatedlongitudinally of the feeler supports 24. If, however, either of thepins 4l is depressed into the path of either of the pins or lugs 44"onthe slides 45, the reciprocating movement of one of the slides 45 willbeinterrupted or retarded with the effect that as therla'y movesbackward the rock-shaft 48 will be rocked. Advantage is taken of thisrocking movement of either of the rock-shafts 48 to change the operativecondition of the loom, as will more fully appear.

Extending from the breast beam 47 at one side of the loom, at the rightin the illustrated form of the invention, there is a shipper bracket 52having a slot 53in-wh1ch is movable the shipper 54. Thesh1pper-54 may beoperatively connected with the source of power as, for instance, a beltshipper or I f the shipper 54 when the latter is in its holdslides 45.

' detached from its holding notch.

Pivotally mounted on the ship er stand 52 at one side of the loom at 56,*ig. 7 is a knock-off lever, 57 having a curved end portion 58 adaptedto be engaged by a depending arm 59 extending from the rock shaft 48 atthat side of the loom. The knock-off; lever 57 normally rests againsting notch, the construction being such that 8.5 should the rock-shaft 48at that side of the loom be turned or rocked under the con ditionshereinbefore described, the finger 59 will ride along-the inclined end58 of the knock-off lever 57 and detach the shipper lever from itsholding notch and, perforce,

effect loom stoppage.

- Extending transversely of the loom adjacent the breast beam 47 is aslide 60 mounted for sliding movement in" a. support 61 adjacent 1 theshipper lever 54, as indicated in Fig. 1. The slide 60 adjacent theshipper lever 54 is provided with a notcheddetent 62"as indicated bydotted lines in Fig.7, 'said detent having an inclined portion 63 which,when moved to the left, Fig. 7, is adapted to engage and move theshipper lever 54 fromits holding notch. The slide 60 at the side of theloom opposite the shipper lever 54, as shown by Fig. 1, is provided witha lug 64 adapted to i be engaged by the finger 65 extending from.

the rock shaft 48, the construction being such that if the rock-shaft48. be rocked owing to interruption in the sliding movement of the slide45 at that side of the loom, the arm 65 will engage the lug 64 of theslide 60 and move it lengthwise to effect disengage ment of the shipper54 from its holding notch thereby effecting loom stoppage.

" From the construction described it will be apparent that should eitherone of the feelers'at either side of the loom detect substantialexhaustion of filling in the shuttle with which it cooperates. andthereby arrest movement of the slide 45 associated vthere with, a changein loom operationwill result, such change in the present instance of theinvention bringing the loom to rest.

It is desirable ina loom of the character 126 described that after the100m has been stopped the attendant may be enabled to start the loomagain from either side of the loom and to this end the slide 60 hasconnected thereto at the side of the'loom'op- 130 posite the shipperhandle, a hand lever 66 pirotally mounted at 67 to a bracket extendingfrom the breast beam 47 and jointed at (38 with the slide 60. The detent62 at the opposite end of the slide (30 has an abrupt lug 69 betweenwhich and the inclined pon tion 63 of the detent the shipper 54: isembraced, the construction being such that should the hand lever 66 atthe left hand side of the loom, Fig. 1, be moved clockwise, Fig. l, theshipper handle at will be drawn into its holding notch and there held tomaintain the loom in operative condition. Likewise, at the right handside of the loom as indicated in Fig. l, the shipper 5% may be directlymanipulated by the attendant to start the loom.

While the above described construction forms a good practical embodimentof the present invention, various changes may be made within the truescope'thereof as applicant believes himself to be the first in this artto provide two feelers, one at each side of the loom, each to cooperatewith one of a plurality of shuttles to effect a change in the operativecondition of the loom when either feeler detects substantial exhaustionof filling in the shuttle with which it cooperates.

"Claims:

1.. In a loom, the combination of the lay, shifting shuttle-boxes atopposite ends of the lay each having two cells for shuttles containingdifferent kinds or character of filling,a feeler at each side of theloom, one of which enters and detects the condition of filling'in one ofthe shuttles when it is inactive at one side of the loom and the otherof which enters and detects the condition of filling in the othershuttle when it is inactive at the opposite side or the loom, and meanscommon to both feelers and rendered effective for stopping the loom upondetection-of substantial exhaustion of filling by either feeler.

2. In a loom, the combination of the lay, shifting shuttleboxes atopposite ends of the lay each having two cells for shuttles containingdifferentkinds or character of filling, a feeler mounted on the lay ateach side of the loom, one of which enters and detects the condition offilling in the inactive shuttle at one side of the loom and the other ofwhich enters and detects the condition of" filling in the inactiveshuttle at the opposite side of the loom, and means actuated by eitherfeeler for stopping the loom upon detection of substantial exhaus tionof filling by either feeler.

3. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box atopposite ends of the lay for containing a plurality of shuttles, afeeler at each side of the loom, one of which feels into and detects thecondition of the filling in one of the shuttles and theand a two cellshifting shuttle-box at each side of the loom, a feeler at each side ofthe loom, one to always feel into and detect the condition of thefilling in one of the shuttles at one side of the loom, and the other toalways feel into and detect the condition of the filling in the shuttleat the opposite side of the loom, and means rendered effective forstopping the loom upon detection of substantial exhaustion of fillingand prior to complete exhaustion by either feeler.

In a 100111, the combination of the lay, a shuttle-box at each end ofthe lay having two cells, a feeler at each side of the loom, one tocooperate always with one of the shuttles when it is at one side of theloom and the other to cooperate always with the other shuttle when it isat the other side of the loom, means for alternately causing the feelersat opposite sides of the loom to feel into and detect the condition ofthe filling in a shuttle, and means rendered effective to stop the loomwhen either feeler detects approaching exhaustion of filling.

In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box at eachend of the lay, a feeler at each side of the loom, and means renderedeffective by shifting movement of the shuttle-boxes to cause first onefeeler at one side of the loom and then the other feeler at the oppositeside of the loom to feel for filling in a shuttle, and means at one sideof the loom actuated by either feeler to stop the loom when the fillingis substantially exhausted.

T. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box at eachend of the lay, a feeler at each side of the loom movable with the lay,and means rendered eftective by shifting movement of the shuttleboxes tocause first one feeler at one side of the loom and then the other feelerat the opposite side of the loom to feel for the filling in a shuttle,and means at one side of the loom actuated by either feeler to stop theloom when the filling is substantially xhausted.

8. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a. shifting shuttle box ateach end of the lay, a feeler at each side of the loom mounted on thelay above the shuttle-box, and means rendered effective by shiftingmovement of the shuttle-boxes to cause first one feeler at one side ofthe loom and then the other feeler at the opposite'side of the loom tofeel for the filling in a shuttle, and means at one side of the loomactuated by either feeler to stop the loom when the,

is substantially exhausted. 1 n a loom, the combination of the layhaving a shifting shuttle-box at each end for a plurality of shuttles, afeeler at each side of the loom, one of which always feels for thefilling in a shuttle when it is at one side of theloom, and the other ofwhich always feels for the filling in another shuttle when it is at theother side of the loom, and a single means controlled by either feelerto stop the loom when either feeler detects substantial exhaustion offilling;

10. In a loom, the combination of'the lay, a shuttle-box at each end ofthe lay having cells for a plurality of shuttles, a feeler at each sideof the loom to feel into a different shuttle and detect the condition ofthe fillto stop the loom when either feeler detects substantialexhaustion of filling in either shuttle.

11. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box ateach end of the lay having two cells, a feeler at each side of the loom,one to feel into one shuttle and the other to feel into the othershuttle, and means common to both feelers to stop the loom when eitherfeeler detects substantial exhaustion of filling.

12. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box ateach end of the lay for a plurality of shuttles, afeeler at each side ofthe loom to feel for the filling and means common to both feelers tostop the loom when either feeler detects substantial exhaustion offilling.

14. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box ateach end of the lay having two cells, the upper cellat one side of theloom and the lower cell at the opposite side of the loom working withthe same shuttle, a feeler at each side of the loom to feel into theshuttle in the upper cell of the shuttle-box, and means renderedeffective to stop the loom when either feeler detects substantialexhaustion of filling. I

15. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box ateach end of the lay having two cells, the upper cell at one side of theloom and the lower cell at the opposite side of the loom working withthe same 3 shuttle, a feeler at each side of the loom and a single meansrendered effective mountedtofeelthrough the'top of a shuttle and detectthe condition of the filling when a" shuttle 'is in the upper cell of ashuttlebox, and means for stopping the loom when either feeler detectssubstantial exhaustion of filling. I

16. In aloom, the combination of the lay, a shifting shuttle-box at eachend of the lay having two cells, the upper cell at one side of the loomand the lower cell at the opposite side of the loom working with thesame and shuttle boxes, a feeler mounted at each side of'the loom tofeel for the'filling in the shuttle, slides movable longitudinally ofthe shuttle boxes as the lay is moved toward and from the front of theloom, means controlled by the feelers for stopping the movement of theassociated slide when the filling is substantially exhausted, and meansfor stopping the loom when either slide is stopped by a feeler.

18. In a loom, the combination of the lay, shifting shuttle-boxes atopposite sides of the lay having two cells for two shuttles, a

feelerat each side of the loom, one of which detects the condition ofthe filling in one of the shuttles when it reaches one side ofthe loom,and the other of which detects the condition of the fillingin the otherwhen it reaches the other side of the loom, a sliding member adjacenteach of the feelers moved on each detecting beat, means connected toeach feeler for arresting the movement of the adjacent sliding memberwhen the filling is substantially exhausted, and means for stopping them when either sliding member'is arrested.

19. In a loom, the combination of the lay and shuttle boxes, a feeler ateach side of the loom, a slide at each side of the loom, means forimparting movement to the slides as the lay moves toward and from thefront of the loom, a stop associated with each of the feelers adapted tobe placed in the path of movement of the adjacent slide when thefeeler'detectssubstantial exhaustion of filling, and means for stoppingthe loom when either slide is arrested in its movements.

20. In a loom, the combination of a shipper lever, the lay andshuttle-boxes, two feelers, one at each side of the loom, and meansbetween each of the feelers and the shipper lever for stopping the loomwhen either feeler at opposite sides of the loom detects substantialexhaustion of filling in a shuttle.

21. In a loom, the combination of the lay the path of movement of one ofthe slides and shuttle boxes, a slide mounted for movewhen the feelerdetects substantial exhaus- 10 ment longitudinally of each of theshuttle tion of filling, and means for stopping the boxes, meansconnecting the slides to a fixed loom When either slide is arrested.part of the loom to cause said movement of In testimony whereof I havesigned my the slides as the lay moves toward and from name to thisspecification. the front of the loom, a feeler at each side of V theloom, and a stop movable by a feeler into JAMES H. BARLOW.

